Improvement in fifth-wheels for vehicles



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Fifth-Wheels For Vehicles.

Patented Dec. 30,1873.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH R. MCGUIRFL'OF ANSONIA, CONNECTICUT.

. IMPROVEMENT lN FIFTH-WHEELS FOR VEHICLES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No.ll15,959, dated December 30, 1873; application filed June 9, 1873. l l

To all whom it may concern: Y

Be it known that I, J osEPH R. MGGUIRE of Ansonia, in the county of New Haven and State of Connecticut, have invented a certain new and Improved Plate for Carriage-Circles,

`of which the following is a description:

Figure 1 is a side view of the carriage-circle and perch-plate. Fig. 2 is a front view. Fig. 3 is a top view.

The small views are detached sections, to which reference will be made.

Like letters of reference refer to like part-s in the several views.

The nature of this invention relates to a carriage-circle and perch-plate, and the object thereof is to so construct the circle that the two sections of which it is composed shall be held in close relation to each other by a clip constructed on the under side of the perchplate, and by which, together with a pair of lugs depending from the ends of the crossbar of the perch-plate, the two sections are prevented from lateral and forward displacement. It further has for its object the prevention of the two sections of the circle from rattling.

A more full and complete description of the above-said circle and perch-plate is as follows, the same being an improvement of a circle for which a patent was granted to me September 24, 1867. l

In the drawings, Figs. l and 2, A represents the upper section of the circle, and B the lower section. On the upper side of section A are formed the ears C and D, whereby the perch-plate C' is held in place, whereas on the lower side of section B are the clips E, by which the circle is secured to the aXle-tree. The two circles are held in proper relation to, and in contact with, each other by means of the clip F, forged on the under side ofthe rear end of the perch-plate C', between the cheeks of which the two sections of the circle are held, as. shown in Fig. l. By this clip the upper section of the circle is prevented from sliding forward and ofi' from the lower one. It is also prevented from sliding laterally therefrom by the lugs Gr, depending from the under side of each end ofthe cross-bar H of the perch-plate, as shown in Fig. 1, and which lugs serve to hold said cross-bar endwise in place, whereas the ears C hold it from moving backward or forward, while the plate C' is held by the ears D, formed on the top of section A.

It will be obvious that, by these several devices, the two sections of the circle are held together, and the perch-plate therewith, without the use of bolts, and, at the same time, the two sections have a free and unrestrained movement, one upon the other, for turning the carriage around.

A further improvement of the circle consists in the application, to the circle, of a device to prevent the two sections from rattling, and which device consists of a cross-bar, J, Fig. 1 tted in the checks of the stay or clip F, a detached view of which is shown in Fig. S, in which it will be seen that said bar is provided with four studs or fingers, c, Figs. 8 and 5, between whichis loosely tted rubiron'A, Fig. 4, a detached view of which is shown in Fig. 7 Said iron is provided with a steel face, B', so curved as to t the under side of the lower section of the circle, and ou which said section slides.

Immediately under the face B is a block of rubber or wood, D', Fig. 6, a detached view of which is shown in Fig. 9, whereby said rubiron is kept in close contact with the lower section of the circle, and which section may be made more or less close in its relation to Athe' upper section by the nuts D', and thereby prevent the two sections from rattling.

The above-described circle is intended for a single perch-plate; but, by a slight modification, it can be adapted to a double perchplate, and which modification consists in forging the clip F' on the upper section of the circle, as shown in Fig. 5, instead of forging and making it a part of the perch-plate, as

l. rlhe perch-plate C, having thereon clip a, block D, and rub-iron A', provided with :L

F and lugs G, in combinationv with the circlel consisting of sections A and B, in the manner as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The section A of the circle, having thereon u clip, F', in combination with the lower section B, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. The cross-bar J, having studs or fingers stee1fa-ee,B/, in combination with the clip F and. circle, consisting of the parts A B, in the manner as and for the purpose specified.

JOSEPH R. MGGUI'RE. Witnesses:

EGBERT BARTLETT, WALES TERRELL. 

